Expect a double dose of tension at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.

Because all the indicators suggest that the double program for the high school men's hockey championship will be close.

Division I finalists, # 2 BFA-St. Albans and No. 4 Stowe shared games with a goal this winter, a slim 1-0 victory for the Raiders, followed by a 5-4 result for the Bobwhites. In D-II, # 3, MIlton faced seeded Harwood with a single goal twice this winter.

Here is a brief overview of the statistics and scenarios coming into the two title games:

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First Division

Teams: N ° 2 BFA-St. Albans (18-4) against n ° 4 Stowe (15-7)

Game time: 8 p.m.

BFA-St. Alban leaders: Parker Gratton (11 goals, 10 assists), Owen Bonnette (11 goals, 5 assists), Caden Hart (8 goals, 11 assists), Owen Benoit (9 goals, 9 assists), Dan Ellis (96.0% d & # 39 ; judgments).

Stowe executives: Atticus Eiden (29 goals, 27 assists), Alex Tilgner (17 goals, 31 assists), Henry Paumgarten (14 goals, 18 assists), Eames Eiden (9 goals, 6 assists), Ethan Brown (91.1% d & # 39 ; judgments).

The game: Contrasting styles and resources define these two finalists. Perennial power BFA is capable of handling three or four lines in a more or less interchangeable way – Stowe, in his first championship match as a D-I program, is mainly a two-line outfit, both teams. At this point in the season, this scenario did not always go well for the smaller program. … The Bobwhites jumped in the second half of the season with an improved and balanced attack and a generally stable defense (0.91 GAA) led by fourth-year goalkeeper Ellis. BFA is looking for its 19th championship in its 27th state final. … The Raiders earned their spot on Wednesday night with a 2-1 seeded Essex knockout. Brown solidified things in the net while Stowe's counterattack style made the most of a gifted top line including Atticus Eiden, Tilgner and Paumgarten. Five-time D-II champion, Stowe reached three consecutive finals between 2014 and 2016 and won consecutive titles in the first two years.

Division II

Teams: Harwood # 1 (19-3) vs. Milton # 3 (16-4-2)

Game time: 6 p.m.

Harwood leaders: Skylar Platt (34 goals, 25 assists), Finn O & # 39; Hara (34 goals, 29 assists), Ollie Hammond (7 goals, 16 assists), Jake Green (4 goals, 17 assists), Tyson Sylvia (8 goals, 9 passes)); Liam Guyette (91.4% savings)

Milton leaders: Owen Perry (16 goals, 13 assists), Nick Desouza (16 goals, 6 assists), Chris Lefebvre (7 goals, 3 assists), Cam Fougere (3 goals, 9 assists), Cooper Goodrich (2 goals, 10 assists); Jackson Ehler (95.9% save, 19 goals against in 20 starts, 4 shutouts).

The game: If the momentum is worth something, then Milton's end could have narrowed the gap with the Highlanders. The Yellowjackets are undefeated in their last seven games (6-0-1) and pushed then unbeaten Harwood to OT before that. … Meanwhile, Harwood, who has lost two of his last three regular season games, survived two tricky playoff shots to reach the final. A late winner saved the day in a 2-1 victory over Missisquoi, then the Highlanders were two goals behind before joining Hartford 4-2 in the semifinals. But first-year coach Jacob Grout has the most dangerous duo in D-II with Platt and O & # 39; Hara, who demand that opponents know where they are at all times and could be even more powerful on the largest area of ​​UVM. … The Yellowjackets have been a thorn for most D-IIs this winter, Ehler leading the way between the pipes and a defense in front of him. Perry's move from defense to front boosted offensive production in 2019 for a unit that is set up to capitalize on the odds as they arise.

Contact Austin Danforth at 651-4851 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @eadanforth.

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